Keighley 23 Dinnington 0

Keighley showed their best form of the season in a comprehensive defeat of a side which had beaten them 39-16 back in September.

It was an impressive performance by backs and forwards alike against a spirited and competitive side who battled to the final whistle.

Keighley showed plenty of flair in attack, scoring three excellent tries, and could have added more. Their success was, however, just as much based on a tigerish defence. For the third week in a row, they kept their try-line intact, with backs Scott Dyson, Adam Horsfall and Andy Marklew in particular showing outstanding courage in the face of some hard running by the visitors for whom No 8 Marshall was a regular threat.

The win was, sadly, not without its cost, with a handful of players picking up knocks, the most worrying being a serious knee injury to Alex Brown. The young fly half has been diagnosed with ligament and cartilage damage, which means a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

He has had an excellent season and his absence from the side leaves a deep hole to fill – not least because of his reliable goal-kicking.

It was Brown who grabbed Keighley’s first points when he followed up a neat box kick by Marklew to touch down before adding the conversion, and shortly afterwards kicking a penalty goal.

A brilliant 50-metre jinking run by wingman James Anson deser-ved a try, but he put a foot in touch almost at the line as Keighley displayed their all-round skills.

They were not to be denied for long, though, and, after second- row man David Lister won good ball at a five-metre line-out, the pack mauled its way to the line for hooker Nathan Thornton to claim the touchdown.

Keighley’s forwards were in great form, with Lister, Evan Griffin, Leigh Sugden and Stuart Inman to the fore, but the backs were not to be outdone. A storming run by Dyson almost brought him a try, and Dinnington’s stretched defence was forced to concede a penalty, converted by Brown to leave the Utley side with a healthy 18-point interval lead.

A sharp break by Brown, well supported by the forwards, got the second half off to an exciting start and Thornton was held up short.

Brown then missed an easy penalty goal attempt, but Keighley’s continued pressure brought a try for Adam Balderstone after a good break by Inman was continued by the midfield backs.

With Keighley reduced for a time to 13 men after Will Armitage was given a yellow card and Brown’s departure through injury, Dinnington launched a series of assaults on the Keighley line. The resolute defence held firm and with the visitors’ No 7 Donnelly following Armitage to the sin bin, Keighley were able to regroup, forcing a final attack which led to Leigh Sugden being tackled a few metres out.

It was a memorable victory in an absorbing game.

The side will, however, face a stern task at leaders Wheatley Hills on Saturday. The hosts’ only defeat was at the hands of Keighley early in the season. Much will depend on the length of the injury list.

Winger Anson and prop Griffin are struggling with shoulder problems but both are included in the squad. One plus is the return of Mark Beckett at full back.